The Continuation Bet

The continuation bet is a key component of aggressive poker play. Since the best strategy for winning money is to play aggressively, the continuation bet is a play that you will need to master. By following the strategy outlined in this article, you will have a great understanding of the continuation bet, and when it should be used...

First, let's discuss what a continuation bet is. A continuation bet is making a bet on the flop in a hand that you already raised pre-flop. You have already taken the initiative, preferably with position, by raising before the flop, so your opponents will almost always check to you. At this point, you should make a bet anywhere between half the size of the pot and the full size of the pot.

Since you raised the pot pre-flop, your opponents will tend to put you on a big hand, possibly a high pocket pair. Because of this, they're likely to throw away their hand if the board comes down three rags, or if they only catch a small piece of the flop.

However, there are situations when you have to know to slow down or release the hand as well. Although your opponents will fold the majority of the time, sometimes they will have to have a hand.

A certain sign that your opponent has a hand is if he checks to you, you continuation bet, and he raises you. This check-raise play is a common tactic that players use against a pre-flop raiser. If this happens to you, and you don't have a solid hand, you should just let the hand go.

There are some situations when it's worth it to see the turn, even when you don't hold a solid hand. For example, if you hold ace king of diamonds, raise pre-flop, and the flop comes down QJ4 with a diamond, you have enough draws here to see the turn. Even if your continuation bet is raised on the flop, you should call because you have two over cards, a straight draw, and a backdoor flush draw.

The following is an example of where many players don't continuation bet, but they should. You hold QQ in late position, and raise the pot pre-flop. One player in early position calls your bet, and the flop comes down AJ2. He checks, and you should bet. The reason for this is it's likely that he does not hold an ace.

The key to the continuation bet is being aggressive, even when the board is scary. When you play like this, your opponents will begin to fear you, and it will be even easier to scare them out of pots.

Now that you understand the continuation bet, get out there and start taking down the pots.